NY POST: Nicole Malliotakis set to become GOP’s top pick in mayoral race

Some Republicans assumed that Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis wasn’t serious when she announced in April she was considering a run for mayor.

“There was the whole issue whether she was just raising her profile. People didn’t know if she was in, or she would drop out,” said Manhattan Republican Party Chairwoman Adele Malpass.

Two months later, the daughter of Greek and Cuban immigrants is the GOP’s presumptive nominee to take on Democratic incumbent Bill de Blasio after her chief primary rival, businessman Paul Massey, quit the race.

And in a short period of time, Malliotakis has proven she’s the real deal, Malpass said.

Malliotakis, 36, immediately filed papers declaring her candidacy, participated in forums, stumped across the city and won the additional backing of the Conservative Party.

“The [Republican] party is going to unite behind her. Over the last two months she has proven to be an energetic, knowledgeable campaigner who could make Bill de Blasio a one-term mayor,” Malpass said.

Malliotakis — who would be the city’s first female mayor — is familiar with being an underdog.

Her initial claim to fame is defeating former Democratic Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer — a close pal of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver — in 2010 in a district that includes parts of Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, the Republican nominee or mayor, will hold a news conference at 10:00 am on Monday, August 14th on the steps of City Hall. Assemblywoman Malliotakis will release her Treatment B4 Crisis Plan to help New York City’s mentally ill. WHO: Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis WHERE: The steps of New York’s City Hall WHEN: […]